Capitol of Creativity
  • Capitol of Creativity
    • Art Lady's Identity
    • ARTISTS: Expectations
  • Art Lair- Blog
    • T.H.I.N.K. about ART
    • Art Books
    • Art Contests & Shows
  • Art Gallery
    • Art Gallery Through the Years
  • Resources
    • Web Based Art Tools
    • Color Family Tree
    • Videos
    • Prezi
  • #SKMSART
  • Art Class

"I'm Finished!"

4/8/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
How often do we hear the students who raise their hand to announce "I'm DONE!"?

I have a few routines that are put in place in our studio to quickly give CHOICE to those students.
Reflection
Students when finished must first hang their work up to self assess their work to see what improvements they might notice that could be made prior to submitting for teacher evaluation. Students upload their work to our Google classroom, submit their artist statement and complete their self reflection worksheet. 
What does your inner artist want to explore?"
Picture
Art Library & Create!
In the front of our room I have a carpet area with a variety of art books for reading, inspiration, and "how to" drawing books.
Students can find a book to read or draw.
​Drawing boards, paper or sketchbooks are ready for students to grab and create!
Students also have the option to use materials from our studio centers to create or finish projects when they have met their obligations. Many choose to explore and create using a variety of materials and improve their skills.

IPADS or Computers
Students can always choose to create on a variety of iPad apps for creation or art exploration. 
In our studio there are several computer stations where students can explore interactive sites with an art focus. Site links are posted through our classroom website portal.
Picture
Check out these other great art ed bloggers sharing some of their tips for early finishers:
Art Teacher Blogs
This post is a part of The Art Ed Blogger's Network: Monthly Tips and Inspiration from Art Teacher Blogs. On the first Tuesday each month, each of these art teacher blogs will post their best ideas on the same topic.

Participating Art Teacher Blogs:

  • Art Class Curator - Artists That Inspire
  • Art Ed Guru
  • Art is Basic
  • Art Room Blog
  • Art with Mr. E
  • Artful Artsy Amy
  • Capitol of Creativity
  • Create Art with ME
  • MiniMatisse
  • Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
  • Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
  • Mrs. T's Art Room
  • Party in the Art Room
  • shine brite zamorano
  • Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
  • Mona Lisa Lives Here
  • Art Teacher Tales
  • Ms Nasser’s Art Studio
  • Arte a Scuola
  • There's a Dragon in my Art Room
6 Comments

Art Read Think Day

4/8/2018

5 Comments

 
Picturephoto by Bob Adamek
Skyline Middle School invited 25 guest readers to our 5th Annual Art Read Think Day last week. The day long re-adthon had a diverse group of readers that included the Harrisonburg Mayor, Superintendent, School Board Members, City Council, Radio DJ, Administrators, Teachers and others from the community who shared their favorite stories or from a collection of Art Books. Teachers signed up for 15 minute time slots throughout the day to bring classes to hear stories being told.
The event is a wonderful way to highlight the creative connections and inspiration found when art & literature combine! Dan Rublee, one of our guest readers summed up the event for our local paper beautifully: "Art, literature, and music bring solace, peace and good feelings amidst the struggles of life. It's an escape mechanism. If they [students] can immerse themselves in those things, they can create a whole new world for themselves". 

Here are some of the books shared during our ART Day event:
  • Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon Illustrations by Henri Sorensen
  • Black Cat Bone by J Patrick Lewis  Illustrations by Gary Kelley
  • The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
  • 10,00 Dresses by Marcus Ewert Illustrations by Rex Ray
  • Edgar Allan Poe Edited by Andrew Delbanco Illustrations by Gerard DuBois
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer pictures by Elizabeth Zunon
  • Love by Matt De La Pena Illustrations by Loren Long
  • How Artists See the Weather by Colleen Carroll
  • Radiant Child - The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
  • Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena pictures by Christian Robinson
  • The Pencil by allan Ahlberg Illustrations by Bruce Ingman
  • ​The Dot by Peter H Reynolds
Many thanks to our readers, teachers, administrators and my collaborator- our librarian Sandy Parks for helping to make this annual event happen!
5 Comments

Full Steam ahead towards Arts Integration

3/13/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Super Hero Cuff: Students design a logo that "lights up" their inner qualities that make the world a better place, then using conductive thread add an LED light to their cuff.
Over the last twenty four years, I have seen a variety of acronyms, jargons and educational strategies come and go. Different terms or even pedagogies have come and gone like the tide. Despite the terms, providing an engaging learning environment that challenges students to think, question, envision, and create  will boost learning outcomes. 
Early in my career I found a passion for making connections for my students to other subject areas, timely topics or even collaborating with other teachers. 
Art communicates thoughts and ideas to others. My students have made connections to every subject though the arts and been able to demonstrate creativity, understanding and problem solving skills. Here are a few of my favorite STEAM or Arts Integrated lessons from the Capitol of Creativity.
  • LED Cuff Bracelets using conductive thread to bring light to positive inner qualities. (collaboration with School Counselors and FACS teacher)
  • Crankies- Students take an old art form and bring folk stories to life. Students must dissect the story to find main characters, setting, action, and how to best communicate their vision through images and spoken words.

Picture
Crankies- Making stories MOVE!
  • Language Skills- my students must READ, WRITE, and SPEAK every day in every class. In the art room we have a variety of ways to bring those skills into art. Writing about art through my week long warm up "THINK about Art", peer guided art description and drawing activity, ART Day, or using Chatterpix to add a voice to art statements.
  • Math skills happen daily in the art room whether in measuring, grid drawing, symmetry, patterns, creating mats for their own art to be displayed or understanding proportion. Perhaps having a mother as my own 9th grade math teacher helped but the connections are infinite!
  • History speaks for itself through the arts. Students make connections to history and current events through Political Cartoons, creating art based on understanding of events or people in history, etc.
  • Science collaborations can make quite an impression! Students have created cyanotype printed quilts based on aquatic life forms, and made relief prints to help imprint the difference between a plant or animal cell in their minds.
Making connections across the curriculum are endless through the arts. I have found inspiration through visiting the Power of Arts Workshop at the Lab School of Washington, DC as well as through resources from ArtsEdge- Kennedy Center. What are some of your favorite ways to help your students make CONNECTIONS to learning?
Picture
Picture
Students DESCRIBE art work and must guide their partner LISTEN and COMPREHEND what to draw.
Picture
Shackles to Scholars: students illustrate symbolically a poem based on events from Harper's Ferry, WV. Work was displayed in the historic park.
Picture
Students often math skills while using the grid method to enlarge sketches and images in their creations.
Picture
Science collaboration to help students make a memorable IMPRESSION in their mind of the difference between a plant or animal cell.

This month, The Art Ed Blogger's Network is writing about STEAM/Art Integration. Join us on the first Tuesday each month for new projects, ideas, and inspiration.

Participating Art Teacher Blogs:

  • Art Class Curator
  • Art Ed Guru
  • Art is Basic
  • Art Room Blog
  • Art with Mr. E
  • Arte a Scoula
  • Artful Artsy Amy
  • Brava Art Press
  • Capitol of Creativity
  • Create Art with ME
  • MiniMatisse
  • Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
  • Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
  • Mrs. T's Art Room
  • Party in the Art Room
  • shine brite zamorano
  • Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
  • There's a Dragon in my Art Room
2 Comments

The Crankie Connection

3/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Crankie Performer Ellen Gozion
​Pennsylvania based Crankie Performer Ellen Gozion ( http://www.ellengozion.com/ ) joined  Skyline Middle School for a presentation of the history of Crankies, the process of creation and afterwards guided teachers through a hands on workshop showing how we can use the art form to connect literacy and art in the classroom.

What is a crankie?

A crankie is an old storytelling art form.  It's a long illustrated scroll that is wound onto two spools. The spools are loaded into a box which has a viewing screen.  The scroll is hand-cranked while the story is told. It can be accompanied by a narrative, song or tune. The workshop and project are making curriculum connections to literacy, math, music, drama and art!
Picture
Picture

Students started to create their own collaborative scrolls this week. A variety of short folk tales were sifted through to pick the groups inspiration for their crankie. Students started by storyboarding the scenes of the story and dividing it into at least 10 scenes. The art classes are working on 11 different  scrolls and will work next week to create artwork on the 25 foot scrolls. Stay tuned for updates on our progress and our efforts to present our Crankies in an after school performance with the drama department on March 20, 2018!

For more information on Crankies check out The Crankie Factory
The guest artist visit and the collaborative project with drama & art students was funded through a Harrisonburg Educational Foundation grant awarded to our librarian, Sandy Parks, drama educator Rebecca Rogers, Choral educator Deborah Mongold and resident Art Lady Ms Kincaid
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Youth Art Month 2018, Wk #1

3/4/2018

0 Comments

 
March is Youth Art Month!

The month will be filled with wonderful activities, art shows, presentations and opportunities to share your appreciation for art work.

WEEK #1

​
Picture#YouthArtMonth Flag Winners
Tuesday March 6, 2018, 7pm at the School Board Meeting the following students will be recognized for placing in the Virginia Youth Art Month Flag Design Contest:
Madison H., 8h grade Middle Level 1st Place
Anish A., 7th grade Middle Level 2nd Place
​

Saturday, March 10th, 2018 1-3pm 
All are invited to the YOUTH ART MONTH ART Show & Reception
Massanutten Regional Library
​
Picture
The following students have art work currently on display at the library throughout March:
Sixth Graders:
Julie B., Jenna G.,Tzeviya M., Lena B.
Seventh Graders:
Julia O., Jolie S., Madelyne Y., Anish A., William W., Edgardo G., 
Marilyn C., Abigail K., Riley T.
Eighth Graders:
Aiyanna S., Madison H., Johana A., Francesca M., Leon Z., Sophia A.

Picture

Personally, I will have 30 pieces of 6x6"art-work
created in thirty days in Jan-Feb 2018 on display
at the VMRC Parks Gable Gallery through the month of March.

​The series of paintings represents my family tree
from my own self portrait through ancestors
​who migrated to North America in the mid 1600's-1700's.

Advisory groups school wide will be invited to help pick a favorite artist during the month of March.
Each day, I will share two competing artists and will gather votes via a daily google form ballot! 


Thank you for your continued support of our artists and they would all love to have you show your support by stopping by the art shows!
0 Comments

Art Across Virginia 2018

3/4/2018

0 Comments

 
The Virginia Art Education Association hosted the first annual social media event to share art, moments of creating, appreciating and visiting art. Virginians shared on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #artacrossva18. It was a wonderful way to Kick-off Youth Art Month by  glimpsing into art classrooms, galleries and museums around the state for a day!
Below are a few of the wonderful posts from around Virginia. Thank you to all who shared!
https://storify.com/ArtLadyHBK/art-across-virginia-2018.html
0 Comments

Artists that inspire us...

2/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
My art story starts at home. As a child, I was blessed to be taken by my mother to see the local artisans in the community where I grew up in WV yearly for craft shows. The community where I grew up didn't have an art education program available until I was in Junior High School. The artists that started my love for making things and sharing my creativity started within my own community. Hidden in the hills of WV are some amazingly creative individuals that have long traditions of craft and expression that have been passed down through the generations. In my own home town of Beckley, WV you can quickly stop by Tamarack to see a variety of artisans in their studios hard at work or browse through the gallery. The community of artists is an ongoing source of inspiration and pride.

Growing up the first "famous" artist I was exposed to was Georgia O'Keeffe. In high school I had a project to recreate a painting that spoke to us in some way. We all dove through a variety of images and I was drawn to one piece. To my surprise the artist was the ONLY female artist represented in our choices. There has been a continued sense of pride and interest in other female creatives through out my life thus far and in my post you will find the strong female visual voices that have spoken inspired me.
At West Virginia University in the early 90's I found great pride in knowing one of my professors helped to publish one of the first art history text books that included women.  ​

Picture
Memories of traveling up to Pittsburg on occasion to be inspired still are vivid in my memory. One day is clear in my mind when I went to see work at the Mattress Factory. The docent led me down a row of old houses where she unlocked a door and let me in. Alone, I entered the home to experience Ann Hamilton's art installation that would forever change how I view art experiences.
Picture

Ann Hamilton

I climbed the three floors of the abandoned house scared yet curious. The first floor only showed small stalagmites of wax building up on the ceiling above. The creaky steps led to the second floor where wax remnants were seen on the floor and the ceiling but an additional scratching sound could be heard.
At first I feared going to the top floor but reminded myself that this experience was ART. On the top floor to my surprise I found birds nibbling away at the bird seed suspended in the wax melting beneath the coffin shaped container of face forms. ​ There was a beauty within  the decay and I found myself frozen in that moment questioning life, materials and how I define art. Later, I was fortunate to meet a Professor Beckley at an art reception and he asked me about the art that inspires me and Ann Hamilton's work fueled a long discussion. Later that year I was thrilled to be contacted and invited to a lecture and diner with the artist afterwards. She remains a source of inspiration, strength, and humility that shows in all of her artistic installations or experiences.

Lenore Tawney

I was introduced later to the artist Lenore Tawney through a book Retrospective published by the American Craft Museum. Over the years I have visited exhibits that included her collages, drawings, and weaving installations. There is a decay, a revival of materials and sensitivity to the way she composes her pieces. Woven threads, drawings, or simple strips of paper she elevates the meaning and use line.

​Artists inspire and speak to each of us in a different way. I find beauty within each of my students in much the same way as I look at art.  
Picture
Each child has a visual voice ready to reworked, polished or woven together in a new and exciting way. Beyond the tough exteriors of a typical teenager, we must, as educators push forward to explore the creative inspiration inside us all. 
What art or artistic experiences have molded the way you view art? 
​Students also have a wonderful opportunity to share their own inspiration through the Doodle for Google Annual Contest.

Be sure to check out the other wonderful art educators sharing their own artistic inspiration via the links below!
Art Teacher Blogs
This post is a part of The Art Ed Blogger's Network: Monthly Tips and Inspiration from Art Teacher Blogs. On the first Tuesday each month, each of these art teacher blogs will post their best ideas on the same topic.

Participating Art Teacher Blogs:

  • Art Class Curator - Artists That Inspire
  • Art Ed Guru
  • Art is Basic
  • Art Room Blog
  • Art with Mr. E
  • Artful Artsy Amy
  • Capitol of Creativity
  • Create Art with ME
  • MiniMatisse
  • Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
  • Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
  • Mrs. T's Art Room
  • Party in the Art Room
  • shine brite zamorano
  • Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
  • There's a Dragon in my Art Room
0 Comments

Woven Together

4/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
A collaborative project between the students, faculty, and staff of Smithland Elementary School and Skyline Middle School, Woven Together is a visual representation of each individual's story, shown within the context of our campus community. Participants answered questions about their region of origin, family make-up, favorite subjects, and spoken languages, and their answers were "graphed" onto their respective weaving. As you view this project, we hope you are reminded that while we each have a unique story to tell, our stories overlap and share commonalities with the stories of others in our community.

A dream of visually representing our unique and diverse learning community was brought to life thanks to a generous grant from the Arts Council of the Valley. The collaborative art installation was partially inspired by the art of Nancy Belmont, the Unity Project installation artist, who designed an  introspective, fantastically fun, interactive public art project. Located in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, VA, the public was invited to define themselves and then celebrate the differences that tie us together and keep us unified. The idea of a way to visually represent our community in our shared campus auditorium space evolved with the idea of wall mounted string art.
Ms Nesmith, art educator at Smithland Elementary and myself teamed up to conceptualize our vision of the installation, define the data points, create the unity lesson/ survey for students and staff, and begin the project planning.
The students and staff of SMES & SKMS were surveyed and the creation of our collaborative project began! Many thanks to our Tech Ed Department for helping to cut our 4' diameter circles as the base for our project. The SMES Art Club painted the tints that became the base for the woven string art created by SKMS art students. Each circle has a number/letter in the center outlined with an equal number of nails representing that group. The outer edge of each circle has nails corresponding to each possible answer from the survey questions.  The finished string art creations are each a unique visual representation of the diversity of our learning communities and elements that help us find the ties that bind us in unity.

0 Comments

#ArtReadThinkDay

3/28/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture

Reading is an art form, and every man can be an artist. Edwin Louis Cole

Skyline Middle School librarian, Sandra Parks and art educator, Holly Bess Kincaid joined forces with the community to make our fourth annual
A.R.T. (Art-Read-Think) Day a huge success.

​Books with an art or music focus filled the day helping us to celebrate Youth Art Month and Music in our Schools Month. 
Featuring the following community members sharing stories:


Superintendent Scott Kizner
Mayor Deanna Reed
Lead singer for Judy Chops Molly Murphy
Smithland Elem. Principal Janis L. Churchill
Skyline Middle School Principal Daniel Kirwan
Teachers, Community Members, and other local leaders.

Teachers were invited to bring students to hear stories all day long! The smiles on faces show what an impact sharing stories can make when we take the time to read aloud.

Art Read Think Day Book List:

Picture
Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan, Illustrated Jon J Muth 
Sung by 8th Grade Civics Teacher Ron Ornstein
​
5 Comments

Discovering the STORY in ART

3/26/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Our 8th grade Falcon Artists had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to visit the National Gallery of Art. 
Picture
The field trip was an opportunity for students to see original art work and taking time to understand the meaning, stories or different ways artists communicate with their visual voice.
The field trip was mostly funded by a Target Field Trip Grant, without the grant I would not have been able to give my students this wonderful experience.  The students met in the art room at 8:00 am to prepare to board the bus. Excitement filled the room and our artists headed to the Nation's Capitol.

​The morning had a spring rain that forced us to walk quickly through the sculpture garden before heading into the museum. In the first moments in the gallery were filled with excitement and students gathered for a group photo before getting to explore a few rooms looking at landscapes, still life paintings and portraits. We met our three guides who had generously given students each sketchbooks to record their visit and fill with responses to art work throughout the day. Students were divided into three groups inspired by artists who have work in the National Gallery of Art collection: DaVinci, O'Keeffe, and Dali.
Picture
Picture
The National Gallery of Art had wonderful docents who planned carefully art work, discussions and the activities that would guide students through the museum. Prior to our trip I was contacted by the education team who talked to me about the student groups and their learning needs. The groups were differentiated for my Language Learners who were able to do drawing activities in their provided museum sketchbook. Other groups of students were guided through discussions and written activities as we discovered 4-5 pieces of art in the collection. 
The trip opened the eyes of my students to art and finding the story waiting to be discovered when you take the time to LOOK!
Reflections on the museum field trip:​
Meer:
"My favorite part of the museum was the collection had not only old but new paintings."
Stephanie:
"I liked the circle of life painting group and how deep and emotional the work was together."
Danna:
"My favorite piece in the collection was a nautical boat scene by Winslow Homer. I loved the colors used in the intense weather scene"
​
1 Comment
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    2D/3D Art
    6th Grade
    8th
    Art 21
    ArtAcrossVA
    A.R.T.: Art Read Think
    Art History
    Artist Visit
    Art News
    Art Nouveau
    Art Project By Google
    Art Room
    Artsonia
    Atc
    Balloon
    Blown Ink Trees
    Books
    Cartoons
    Character Education
    China
    Choice
    Clay
    Cubee
    Cubism
    Design Thinking
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Dragon Culture
    Drawing
    Dream Rocket
    Elementary
    Field Trip
    Fulbright-Hays Seminar
    Google
    Heroes
    Illuminated Manuscripts
    Inside Out
    Japan
    Memory
    Monochromatic
    NAEA
    News
    Nyc
    Op Art
    Origami
    Paper Sculpture
    Pinwheels
    Play
    Portrait
    Power Of Art
    Quotes
    Shuttle
    Smile
    Super Artists
    Technology
    Trees
    Value
    VCETarts
    Watercolor
    Youth Art Month

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Author

    Art lady 
    Ms. Kincaid

    Follow @ArtLadyHBK
    Follow Me on Pinterest
    The smARTteacher
    Tweets by @ArtLadyHBK

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    October 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    November 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Capitol of Creativity
    • Art Lady's Identity
    • ARTISTS: Expectations
  • Art Lair- Blog
    • T.H.I.N.K. about ART
    • Art Books
    • Art Contests & Shows
  • Art Gallery
    • Art Gallery Through the Years
  • Resources
    • Web Based Art Tools
    • Color Family Tree
    • Videos
    • Prezi
  • #SKMSART
  • Art Class